NSFT staff to learn from renowned international psychologist thanks to partnership working with UEA

15/06/2016

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​Partnership working between the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) and University of East Anglia (UEA) means staff from both organisations will learn from eminent Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) trainer and author, Professor Greg Hinrichsen this week.

Professor Hinrichsen, who is an associate professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, will present two day-long workshops at Hellesdon Hospital in Norwich on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 June.

IPT is an evidence-based psychotherapy which focuses on resolving interpersonal relationships and decreasing depressive symptoms. It has been adapted to use with people with personality disorder, bipolar disorder, life limiting conditions and cognitive impairment including dementia.

The workshops are aimed at experienced clinicians (psychotherapists and psychologists) who are already trained in other forms of psychotherapy. The training is intended to equip clinicians to practice IPT at a competent level. The training is not part of the current IPT UK accreditation process. However, the training would be a great first step for anyone wishing to follow this route. It is expected that those practitioners attending will disseminate what they learn about IPT amongst colleagues and provide support for others who want to develop their knowledge and understanding of the model.

Chief Executive of NSFT, Michael Scott is attending Thursday’s workshop, and said: “I am delighted that recognised IPT trainer and author Professor Hinrichsen will be hosting these workshops for our clinicians. This visit of a world renowned expert shows how much NSFT services have improved and how well they are regarded.

“I am very much looking forward to Thursday’s workshop to learn more about IPT, and hope that all NSFT and UEA staff attending will find it informative and useful.”

Clinical Psychologist at NSFT Julia Weatherley helped organise the events and said: “We are thrilled to have Greg coming this week to speak to our staff. This is an exciting opportunity for clinicians to gain a broad understanding of IPT and build on their previous psychotherapy experience to use the model in their practice.

“The events have been made possible through positive collaborative working and I would like to say a big thank you to the University of East Anglia, especially Ken Laidlaw, for his help and support in enabling this to come to fruition.”

UEA’s Head of Department of Clinical Psychology, Ken Laidlaw, said: “I know that Dr Greg Hinrichsen is one of the foremost world experts in IPT with older people and more generally. I am aware he is held in very high esteem professionally and he has had formal professional recognition for his excellence in training. It is a really exciting development to see such great collaboration between UEA and NSFT to have such an international expert provide local training.”